Yesterday the whole of the
chapter presented a picture of how we, as Christ-followers, should practically
live differently from people who follow a different code and different
Lord.
In that same vein, my heart
perked up when I read the final two verses today. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in
orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in
dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,
and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful
nature (13-14).
Two ‘do’s’ and a ‘don’t’:
Behave decently…
Clothe yourself with
Christ…
Don’t even THINK about
gratifying your sinful nature.
Practical and straightforward life choices that show
God’s life and power residing in us.
Behave
decently… our world surely can use more people with that as
their aim. Just imagine the civility this would bring to the world if people
truly sought to live this way. Imagine for a moment what things would look like.
Now ask yourself how would my home life, work life, after-hours life look if I
lived this way?
Clothe yourself in
Christ… put on Christ-likeness. This takes behaving decently
to a new level. Think through how Jesus lived… caring for others, praying,
confronting evil in the world, teaching the way of the Lord. As Christ-followers
you and I have God’s Holy Spirit within us. We can clothe ourselves with Jesus
and Jesus-like attitudes and behaviors.
Don’t even THINK about
gratifying our sinful nature. Forget about doing sinful
things, Paul says. Don’t even entertain thoughts of sinful living. I went to a
Yankee baseball game this week and police were checking every vehicle going into
Stadium parking for explosives. Every vehicle was stopped and a visual
inspection was made, even under each vehicle. The parking lots are not even
connected to the stadium, they are across and down the street! The ‘check
points’ have moved out from the stadium to a perimeter further
away.
Paul says move your
“spiritual check points” from doing to THINKING. Don’t even think about doing
wrong. When wrongful thoughts enter your head, CUT them off. Do not wait until
you are tempted to act!
Anyway… there is plenty
more contemplation … keep meditating.
Behave decently…
Clothe yourself with
Christ…
Don’t even THINK about
gratifying your sinful nature.
Oh, God
may my life shine for You, advance Your work in the world, and give You glory
and honor and praise. Amen.
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